Homebrew Zandalari Troll Species Details

Zandalari trolls are one of the oldest races on Azeroth.  Ruling over the island of Zandalar, they are the ancestors of all troll kind and subsequently the elves.  They are incredible scholars and proud warriors.  Zandalari trolls are skilled magic users and have a strong connection to the spirits.  They worship ancient beings called Loa.  In order to be considered part of the  Zandalari tribe, only one of your parents needs to be a Zandalari.

Apperance

Zandalari trolls average eight feet in height, the Zandalari trolls are among the largest, strongest trolls in the world; only the Drakkari ice trolls of Northrend are as big. They are just as ferocious as other trolls, and just as cunning, if not more so..  They have traits similar to both orcs and elves, with tusks and long pointed ears.  They have skin colors ranging from gray, black, green, and blue.  With yellow or blue glowing eyes.  

Many male Zandalari stand a head taller than an upright jungle troll on average, most even more. And even short males tend to be taller.  Female Zandalari stand taller than male and female trolls from other subgroup, excluding ice trolls and dark trolls.  Additionally, the Zandalari generally stand tall because of their regal and proud attitude.  Though male trolls do tend to crouch, when they stand up right they easily dwarf all other races.  

Zandalari trolls have been mentioned to have fur on their neck, though it is unknown if it covers their body akin to the hair like fur of jungle trolls. Most Zandalari are seen with scale-like patches on various areas of their bodies, such as; feet, ankles, shins, thighs, waist, back, shoulders, chin, cheeks, brows, scalp, biceps, forearms, and hands, locations appear to vary between individuals. However not all Zandalari have these patches and retain a smoother appearance. The patches of scales most Zandalari have can also grow into spikes.  It is unknown what they truly are, though it is possible that they are osteoderms, bony deposits that form scales, plates, and even spikes. Many dinosaurs are known to have had osteoderms.

The Zandalari's third toe, or "heel toe", is less prominent on males than it is on females. It is especially prominent on both male and female Zandalari dire trolls, of which males are also sometimes seen wearing rings around their heel toes as accessories.

The Zandalari are considered the finest specimen of all troll tribes, with their royal stature and being the original trolls. There is an incident where a human calls them the "elves of trolls", much to their immense offense. Their exquisite beauty and elegance were inherited by their elven descendants - the night elves, the high elves and the blood elves.

Age

Zandalari trolls are have a naturally long life span.  Easily living for a couple centuries.  Zandalari rulers have a generously long life span due to being blessed by the Loa.  With new coronations happening every couple centuries or so.  Even though they are long lived they do not live as long as other races like the elves.

Culture and people

Zandalari society has remained an unchanging hierarchy for thousands of years. Hardworking farmers, fishers, and craftsmen form the peasant caste, the foundation of the empire. Zandalari elders tell them what to harvest, when to plant, and how to behave. To disobey the elders is to disobey the gods, an offense punishable by exile or death. The Zandalari warrior caste sits above the peasantry, acting as the arms of the King and the might of the council. Dexterity is not prized among Zandalari warriors: Brute force, backed by ancient magics, is the preferred combat style. Dictating every aspect of Zandalari society down to the very last detail are the scholars of the priesthood. Masters of magic and communing with the spirits, these respected bastions of knowledge stand upon fifteen millennia worth of accumulated knowledge. The highest of these have a seat on the Zanchuli Council, which both advise the King and ensures his every command is executed upon. The council is consulted before every battle or major decision. From a golden throne, lording over all of the Zandalari, rests the great King Rastakhan. Empowered by the Zandalari gods themselves to act as their voice, he has ruled for over two hundred years. Zandalar's rulers are generally notoriously long-lived. As such new coronations happen only every few centuries. Claiming the throne is the Zandalari's most sacred rite, with the would-be ruler's spirit being weighed and measured by the loa themselves.

Citizens might request a direct audience with the current king or queen, but the waiting line could be made up of more than four hundred citizens at a time, resulting in lines lasting for days.  More desperate citizens might try pleading with the current voice of the king in order to speed things up.

Casteless orphan children are tested for any sign of connection to the loa. Those blessed by the loa receive full priest training and all of the honor and privilege that accompanies it. Those that are not blessed are given an opportunity to prove they will grow into strong warriors someday. Those that fail both tests are of no use to the Zandalari and are likely to end up as thieves or beggars.

Being a Zandalari farmer apparently involves taking the "rock test" by lifting heavy stones above one's head and show that one's back is strong, after which one gets a job pushing plow living on dirt.

There is no room for weakness among the Zandalari. Strength, ferocity, stamina, power: These are the traits by which success is measured. At adolescence, those Zandalari males not chosen to be priests or scholars must prove their strength to the council, the king, and the gods themselves. Any display of physical power will do. Tournaments and competitions are held as children come of age. Adolescents prepare for their trials with years of training, communion with the spirits, and by tattooing sigils of power onto their skin. A common rite is to travel to one of the violent, beast-ruled islands near the capital to steal or subdue a wild creature. The lesser troll races have their own, humbler versions of this tradition. But the mastery of ravasaurs or raptors is nothing compared to the power required to call upon a devilsaur or direhorn.

The ultimate symbol of power amongst the Zandalari is the garb they wear in battle, and the tribe acknowledges station and power through what the Zandalari wear.  The Zandalar prize what they wear as a symbol of accomplishment. One doesn't need to be able to see what one wears to be able to sense what emanates from it - power transcends sight.

The Zandalari, during the aftermath of the Sundering that had turned Zandalar into an island, mastered the seas over thousands of years and as such their navy rivals, if not surpasses that of Kul Tiras.  The master of the Zandalari navy is Pa'ku, the pterrordax loa.

Their cloth features dinosaur leather and gold.

A typical Zandalari spends his days hunting in the jungles or fishing along the coastlines. Many spend their days researching ancient lore and cataloging history. Religion is important to the Zandalari —they are the trolls’ priest caste, after all — and they revere their pantheon of primitive, animalistic gods that take the forms of bats, snakes, and the like. Zandalar priests carve totems and engage in rituals, while Zandalar witch doctors brew potions and administer to wounded trolls. The Zandalari are constantly vigilant against invaders.

Faith

The Zandalari worship beings referred to as loa. Countless loa exist, most weak, but some very powerful. Most are shapeless, whereas others have animal or creature forms. Zandalari families often worship their own family loa, cities usually have their own civic deities, and the greatest loa are worshiped by the nation as a whole. Powerful, enlightened Zandalari can become loa upon their death - or so it is believed. These spirits are central to the Zandalari worldview: so say the loa, so go the Zandalari.  As such, the faithful (priests, druids or prelates) are among the most revered in Zandalari society.

The homeland of the Zandalari, Zandalar, was once a mountain range on ancient Kalimdor that was home to many loa. It was there that the Zandalari built their bustling capital of Zuldazar, a temple city. Following the Great Sundering, Zandalar is now a large island located in the South Seas.

Throughout the ages, many kings have ruled over the Zandalari empire. Each one, however, knew their place when it came to the great loa and offered their praise to the mightiest of all of them, Rezan, the Loa of Kings. This loa honors deeds over words, but takes slights very seriously and had been known to harbor grudges.

The Zandalari believe that Bwonsamdi brings the spirits of any who worship him into his realm; the Other Side.

Magic

The Zandalari are quick learners and carry out tasks well. Having mastered the usage of magic and communing with the spirits.  Zandalari priests and mages wield magic with incredible power and utilize forbidden knowledge whilst being backed up by at least fifteen millennia of accumulated knowledge due to the scholarly nature of their culture.

With their mastery over spirits, they can capture and entomb spirits within golems and sentries.  They can also channel the essence of a loa's spirit into powerful constructs. Likewise they have totems to retrieve the spirits bound within golems by siphoning them out, called "soulcatcher totems".

Because of their incredible mastery over magic, the Zandalari were able to erect a powerful shield around the lands of their empire as the Well of Eternity imploded and broke ancient Kalimdor apart. They had hoped to shield the rest of the continent but did not have the time to extend past their own borders, beyond the shield they watched the world be consumed by water. In the aftermath, they discovered that their lands had become an island.

They mastered, honed, and perfected the voodoo arts.  The true origin of voodoo magic is unknown yet it is likely that it originated from the Zandalari.

They have an impressive mastery over the arcane and shadow, having achieved what many others have not as they are able to combine the two schools into one.  A unique feat that only the Apexis civilization is also known to have achieved.

Beast taming

The Zandalari are known and regarded for their ability to tame even the most powerful of beasts. Including–but not limited to–devilsaurs, direhorns and skyscreamers.

One of their greatest allies is that of the direhorn. Plated skin, with spikes protruding from various directions, this creature offered both protection for itself and that of its master. It was custom for its future master to be the first to see it when it broke free from its shell.  All the beasts that haul their goods, carry their armies, and fight their wars are born and bred at Warbeast Kraal in Zuldazar.

Military

The Zandalar tribe is a group of mystical trolls who serve as the priest caste for all other trolls. They have few warriors, and what warriors they do have are dedicated to protecting their home island of Zandalar. Thus, when the Zandalari need people to accomplish tasks in the larger world, they work through agents of other races. Were an unfriendly member of such a race to enter Zandalar, however, he would find himself contending with the Zandalari’s warriors. Though few, they are rumored to be excellent fighters.

The Zandalari make their home in the jungle. As such, their warriors prefer to attack from ambush, lurking in the trees’ shadows, in the underbrush, or in the canopy before bursting out to attack. They set themselves up in the wilderness along their enemy’s path well in advance, then leap forward when the time is right. They hurl javelins; then, depending on the reaction, they either continue to fling their weapons, they charge into melee, or they melt back into the shadows to perform the same tactic again.

Many priests and witch doctors work among the Zandalari, so almost all Zandalar warriors are in possession of a few bottles of brews they can slug back to make themselves stronger, fiercer, or heal their wounds. Zandalar leaders carry many such concoctions and are sure to have witch doctors at their sides who provide them with more. If they expect to go to battle, the trolls drink the brews immediately beforehand, allowing them to crush their enemies with ease.

If battle is joined, Zandalar priests and witch doctors support their warriors with enhancement spells and healing in addition to entering the fray directly. Bloodlust and inner fire are particularly devastating — spells that affect many allies at once. Of course, the spellcasters don’t mind blasting their enemies when the situation calls for it, and Zandalari potion docs spend battles hurling explosive potions into enemy ranks.

The few Zandalari warriors take the front lines, though they prefer to soften up the enemy with thrown javelins and axes first. This tactic also allows their spellcasters more time to cast beneficial spells on them before melee is joined. Zandalari warriors are fierce and wild, and they do not often retreat; once a troll throws himself into melee, he isn’t coming back until the enemy’s corpses lie about him.

Zandalar warriors perform other functions as well, including reconnaissance, discovering the best places to set their ambushes. They also harry enemy forces with guerilla tactics, which can make the enemy foolish. Priests and witch doctors help these endeavors with divination magic.

Zandalari Troll Traits

The Zandalari trolls value strength and ancient magics. They dont care for Dexterity all that much especially in combat. Most spend their days hunting in the forests or fishing on the coast. Some spend their days researching ancient magic and archiving ancient history.

Regeneration

Trolls have the natural ability to heal from any damage they receive. They can focus their regeneration to heal more than they normally could.  At the start of each of their turns the Zandalari troll heals 10HP.  Once per long rest they can regenerate 100% of their max health.  But using this ability means they can take no other actions for 2 rounds.  Moving or taking damage cancels this ability, healing only a partial amount of health.  

Languages

Zandalari trolls have gained additional languages since joining the horde.

Embrace of the Loa

The Zandalri are very devoted to their loa.  Even gaining additional benefits from the ones they worship.  Once every five days a Zandalari troll can change his connection to a loa.  Granting them a new ability based on which alter they worship at. 

Proficencies

Zandalari trolls are proficent in Arcana, Nature, Religion, and Survival.

Ability score increase

Zandalari trolls get a +2 to Strength, -1 to Dexterity, and a +1 to either Intelligence or Wisdom. 

Pterrodax Swoop

Once per short rest a Zandalari troll can cast Feather Fall on themselves.